Kale, Grapefruit, and Pepita Salad: My Diary of Us

This will be the first week in over a month that I will sleep in my own bed for more than five days in a row. I have been to the west coast, to the east coast, and then immediately spent the weekend away in New Orleans. My body is completely out of whack from not eating the right foods and not drinking enough water over the past month. This week I have been on a mission to nourish and be kind to my body because it is SO not used to the mistreatment. That's why my kale, grapefruit, and pepita salad has been the perfect lunch addition to my meal planning this week!

I've been drinking lemon water by the gallon and almost passed out from working out yesterday since I haven't been regularly doing that either...oops. And yeah, why does it take so long to get in shape and so little time to get out of shape? And then there are the cookies that are torturing me on my social media news feed from all of my favorite bloggers and I'm all like "veggies, lemon water, detox, you can do this Leigh Ann."

PostedDecember 10, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSalads, Lunch

TagsHealthy Salads, Winter Salads, Citrus Salads, Citrus Recipes, Holiday Salads, Kale Recipes, Clean Eating Recipes, Clean Eating Salads, Gluten Free Recipes, Healthy Lunch Ideas

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Spicy Honey Roasted Acorn Squash Salad: My Diary of Us

Fall is slowly creeping it's way into Louisiana and this week at the farmer's market it was evident that fall produce has started to arrive. Squash, of all kinds are everywhere you look. So, in an attempt to eat a little lighter this week, because lately I've been eating like I don't have to go to the beach in a week...which I do, I decided to go the salad route with my acorn squash. And what a salad it is y'all. This spicy honey roasted acorn squash salad is scrumdillyumtious and you definitely won't fell like you are missing anything in the food department.

A friend of mine brought me back some chile infused honey from Lafayette and I have been dying to use it. I love combing sweet and spicy with ingredients like squash or sweet potatoes especially if they are roasted because their natural sweetness comes out already. I knew that the infused honey would be perfect for the squash and turns out I was right.

PostedOctober 14, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner, Salads

Tagshealthy eating, Healthy Recipes, Gluten Free, Clean Eating, Acorn Squash Recipes, sweet and spicy, Fall Recipes, Fall Salads, healthy, lunch ideas, light dinners, Fall Flavors

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Grilled Romaine and Peach Cobb Salad - My Diary of Us

I've been needing a salad in my life lately after going on a two month, I think I'll just eat whatever I want phase. Which don't get me wrong has been great, and everyone needs to do it every now and then, but it's time to get a grip. And a good salad always helps to get me going in the right direction. This summer grilled romaine and peach cobb salad is so yummy that you won't even be thinking about the fact that it is healthy!

Trust me on this one.

Have you ever had grilled romaine lettuce? It's grilled quickly just to char to ends which is just enough to still leave a good crunch to the lettuce. It's delicious! And we all know I like to grill just about everything! Remember that grilled romaine wedge salad that I had in Lafayette a couple of weekends ago? Well that salad inspired this one.

I love updating a favorite salad with whatever ingredients are in season and that happen to be at the market. One of my favorite salads is a cobb salad, and really you add any ingredients that tickle your fancy. This week, I decided to grill some of the components to get a smoky flavor mixed with the other veggies. The grilled peaches add a nice sweetness, and then it's brought all together with a creamy homemade low-fat blue cheese dressing!

PostedAugust 5, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSalads

TagsSummer, Grilled, Peaches, Grilled Peaches, Grilled Romaine, Cobb Salad, healthy, Clean eats, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Salads, Clean Eating Salads, Healthy Salads, Summer Salads, Blue Cheese, Low Fat Blue Cheese Dressing, salads, grilled recipes

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Fresh Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad: My Diary of Us

One of my favorite things to do in the summertime is to slice a tomato and eat it all by itself, because for these few summer months tomatoes are at their peak and are so sweet and juicy. I just slice and add salt and pepper, simple as that! They become the perfect snack, or the perfect addition to any meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My other fave summer veggie are cucumbers that beg to be eaten just sliced with a little garlic salt or Cajun seasoning. My other favorite thing to do with these beauties is to make a fresh summer tomato and cucumber salad that is the easiest side dish to accompany any weeknight meal or summertime backyard BBQ's.

PostedJune 17, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSalads

Tagssummer, salads, summer salads, clean eats, farm fresh, eat local, tomatoes, cucumbers, gluten free, side dishes, summer side dishes, healthy, homemade, healthy eating, healthy recipes

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By now you might already know about my new obsession with this shallot and curry vinaigrette....if not you are about to. I think you either love curry or you don't. I happen to love it like I love garlic. So that means I love it a lot! I actually scored this vinaigrette recipe from my Fine Cooking Magazine, in their Cook Fresh edition. I made it with grilled chicken and couscous the first go around and loved it so much I had to make it again. Most of the time when I recipe test I have to tweek a thing or two before I post it to the blog...well not this grilled chicken, cantaloupe, and goat cheese spinach salad...it was perfection the first time, but I made it again just to make sure!

It's the perfect balance of textures and flavors that just scream summer salad. Not to mention the colors tell you this salad is good for you. It would be great as a lunch or served as dinner with some Naan bread.

There is something about the mild onion and curry flavor mixed with the grilled charred chicken, the sweet cantaloupe, and the creamy goat cheese! I love it and will be making it all summer long!

PostedApril 21, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSalads

Tagshomemade, grilling, curry, salads, healthy

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Healthier Shrimp Caesar Salad: My Diary of Us

The weather went from crisp but perfectly warm Spring days to almost full on humid Summer heat in what seems like overnight! Lately the thoughts of turning my oven on make me cringe because I know my air conditioner doesn't need any more work added to it's heavy lifting as it is. And you know what, the worst is yet to come! Nevertheless, Summer heat means salads will be making it to our table a few times a week and one of my all time favorite salads just so happens to be a Caesar Salad! What I don't love is that usually when I order a Caesar salad out at a restaurant, I know that it can be super unhealthy and I might as well be eating a cheeseburger in most cases! That's why I love making my own version at home! Add my healthier shrimp Caesar salad to your weeknight routine and see just how easy it is to make right in your own kitchen!

PostedMarch 21, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSalads

Tagshealthy, grilling, Ceasar salad, shrimp, Spring cooking, salads

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